Aisha said that she had been shouldering the responsibility of their seven children including their schooling.

The wife told the court that she had earlier reported the matter to the defendant’s guardian, but their intervention has not yielded any positive result.

The complainant, therefore, prayed to the court to compel Adamu to take up his responsibility as the father of his children, because she could no longer shoulder the burden due to the collapse of her business.

In his defence, the husband agreed that he has not been responsible for the education of the children, but had from time to time provided them with food when he has the means.

He disagreed with his wife that he has been irresponsible since their marriage 20 years ago, saying that his problem began seven months ago when the company he worked for failed to pay him his salary.

The Judge Malam, Musa Sa’ad descended heavily on Adamu, saying his actions cannot be justified and a serious sin before Allah.

“It is a great offence not to cater for your family while you are able and healthy.

“It is compulsory for the defendant to take up his responsibility as a husband and a father which include providing food, clothing, shelter, health and education,” the Judge said.

He ordered the complainant to provide the court with an estimate of her monthly requirement for the family upkeep for the court to decide.

Sa’ad assured the woman that “from now henceforth he (the husband) will be a man”.